Curbside Classic -

Curbside Find: 1978 Buick Skylark – Tan And Beige And Drab All Over

– Posted on September 9, 2024

Some curbside finds fill one with an overwhelming sense of excitement at first sight, others with awe and wonder. Sometimes it’s the setting and circumstance, other times the vehicle itself, and best of all of course is a combination of both. And then sometimes the find seems almost inevitable, as in this case on the south side of Phoenix, as if it’s obvious that it would be where it was when it was. A moment of indecision and then I crossed most of the street from where I was on the other side to get some shots; after all, not every curbside find is actually curbside so it’s got that going for it. Read the rest of this entry »

Car Show Classic: 1981 Renault 14 TL – Why Don’t You Grow A Pear

Tatra87

– Posted on September 9, 2024

This week we will explore a category of cars that is relatively difficult to find nowadays, despite there being many examples of their occurrence. “French Four-door (or Five-door, in this case) Fails” is the motto, and therein lays the issue: cars that didn’t sell too well in the distant past, be they French or otherwise, are by nature pretty thin on the ground now. But I still have a few goodies from my summer 2023 stint back in the home country, where I found this perfectly preserved R14 – a perfect embodiment of French automotive failure.

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Bus Stop Classics: 1974-76 Mazda Parkway 26 Minibus – Does That Thing Have a Rotary?

Jim Brophy

– Posted on September 8, 2024

(first posted 9/8/2018) Most major Japanese manufacturers had a small minibus in their lineup in the 1960s and 70’s; Toyota’s Coaster, Nissan’s Civilian, Mitsubishi’s Rosa, and Isuzu’s Journey are good examples. These were small forward-control buses built on a truck chassis – front engined – seating anywhere from 22 – 30 passengers. Mazda had one also, the Parkway, but could boast its bus had something the others didn’t… Read the rest of this entry »

Curbside Classic: 2007 Ford Fusion SEL V6 AWD – Perhaps The Most Appropriately Named Car In Automotive History

Edward Snitkoff

– Posted on September 8, 2024

“Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to. That’s the only way to become what you were meant to be.”

(First posted 9/9/2018) Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a lot of things: a statement on how the baby boomers failed to create a safe and stable world for their progeny; an exploration into the value of failure; a deconstruction of the hero’s journey. But above all, the film wrestles with the notion of forsaking old ideas and institutions in order to move forward. This is paramount to the relationship between a dejected Luke Skywalker and Jedi acolyte Rey, who struggle to understand each other amidst a galaxy in crisis. In the film, writer/director Rian Johnson made a clear statement about the creation of art: moving on from established norms is necessary but impossible to accomplish without borrowing elements from the past. The Last Jedi succeeds as the latest entry to the Skywalker saga and a message to Star Wars fans that the franchise will lose its relevancy if it isn’t allowed to change.

The 2006 Ford Fusion also attempted a clean break from what came before. And the story of how Ford created the car is a real world example of exactly what Rian Johnson attempted to explain throughout the film: that the past influences and surrounds us whether we’re aware of it or not.

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Cohort Classic: 1952 VW 1100 – The Most Desirable VW

Paul Niedermeyer

– Posted on September 8, 2024

shot and posted at the Cohort by Constantine Hannaher

(first posted 9/9/2018) For lovers of classic VW beetles, the 1952 stands out as the most desirable, or at least it did back in the day when I was into VWs. I had such a hard on for a split window Beetle, but they were either in the hands of those that got them first, or they were too decrepit to bother with (someone would of course eventually). And what made the 1952 so especially desirable?

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Curbside Find: 1980s Dodge Ram – Looking Sharp In Georgia

Rich Baron

– Posted on September 8, 2024

Found in Gainesville, GA. Photos submitted by Harry Case.

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Cohort Find: Gen2 Javelin – Was This Really Made? And They Really Were Used By The Alabama Highway Patrol??

Paul Niedermeyer

– Posted on September 8, 2024

shot and posted at the Cohort by canadiancatgreen

As the decades roll by and the automotive landscape slowly but surely evolves and we become acculturated to the contemporary forms and sizes, there are moments when I see something like this and I ask myself: Was this really made? In the US? In mass-production? Unlike the deeply ingrained more common vintage shapes, this gen2 Javelin, which was of course never very common from the get-go, it just looks so alien (Australian?)

OK; I’m back in the real world, and yes, these were made and sold here; even to the Alabama Department of Public Safety (highway patrol) that bought no less than 132 of them. Seriously. The first pony car bought as a highway patrol car.

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Auto-Biography: Serial Swedish Station Wagons

Stephen Hansen

– Posted on September 8, 2024

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never had much use for four-door sedans; all of my collector cars have been two-doors, whether convertibles, coupes, or sedans. And sure, a couple of my Volvo test cars over the years were four-doors, a 2002 S80 and an S60 a while later, but whenever I had a choice, I opted for a station wagon, especially after Volvo dropped the two-door 240-series.

I’ve always felt that the station wagon body style offers the most versatility for accommodating whatever combination of passengers and cargo one might need to throw at it. And, donning my car-designer hat for a second, it’s also my personal opinion that wagons frequently just look better than sedans as well.

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Curbside Classic: 1984 Dodge Aries – Lee Iacocca’s Second Falcon

Paul Niedermeyer

– Posted on September 7, 2024

(first posted 9/7/2018) When Lee Iacocca was promoted to Ford Division General Manager in 1960, his disdain for the boxy and dull Falcon was palpable. It was eating big Ford sales and generating compact profits. Meanwhile Chevy was on a hot roll with its sporty Monza that didn’t cannibalize big Chevy sales. He couldn’t wait to turn the Falcon into something with a lot more sex appeal and higher margins.

When Lee took over Chrysler in 1978, there were some similarities, as the boxy and decidedly not sexy K-cars were in the final stages of their development. But this time Lee had to show some love for them, as the K-Cars were the only hope of saving Chrysler, which would then allow him to do what he really wanted to do: Sell cars with some audible sizzle. Soon enough…

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Vintage Reviews: 2000 Mercedes-Benz S500 – Slim Fast S-Class

– Posted on September 7, 2024

(first posted 9/6/2018) Newton’s 3^rd law of physics relays that “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” In the case of cars, that premise could be seen in the transition between Mercedes-Benz’s oversized, overpriced W140 S-Class and its W220 successor, which was repositioned as the “smaller, friendlier” S-Class. But in abandoning the “engineering uber alles” approach that had underpinned Mercedes’ success for decades, did Benz throw the baby out with the bath water?

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Netflix’ Dark Winds Blows Its Automotive Casting – No, The Police Did Not Drive Jacked-Up 4x4s In 1970

Paul Niedermeyer

– Posted on September 7, 2024

We’ve just finished the two series of the Netflix series “Dark Winds”, set on the Navajo reservation, based loosely on Tony Hillerman’s books and written and produced by Navajos. It’s quite good, although it’s hard to top the Hillerman books themselves.

But as soon as Lt. Joe Leaphorn’s GMC 4×4 Suburban police truck rolled into the shot the first time, I had a minor conniption. Oh no! It’s all wrong! It’s jacked way up! Nobody did that back in 1970 when this was set. And most certainly not a police department.

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Vintage Snapshots: Under The Hood – Tune Ups And Repairs

Rich Baron

– Posted on September 7, 2024

It’s the weekend, and I would think some of you out there are planning on doing some mechanical work. If so, this gallery will probably speak to you. And to myself, as I’ve also done my share of such tasks. No engine overhaul, mind you, but I can certainly relate to several images in this post. From the unexpected breakdown to the odd contortions that needed to reach inaccessible parts. And well, the occasional use of unconventional means and tools to finish a task.

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Four Curbside Classics Found At The CC Manor Apartments

Paul Niedermeyer

– Posted on September 7, 2024

As I drove by this apartment parking lot, it was the Sentra that first caught my eye. But I quickly noticed it was in good company; three other CC’s all sitting nearby keeping it company. Must pull in and check them out.

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My 2023 Mazda CX-5 2.0 ‘Executive’ – The All ‘Round Man

yohai71

– Posted on September 7, 2024

Those of you who follow my posts will recall that early in the year, I published an update of the previous cars making up the family fleet, and how these were reduced to a single vehicle that replaced them both. In that post, I already revealed it as a 2023 Mazda CX-5, but as it was too early to COAL, I held on to a dedicated review. Now, after a year with the family, the time has come to share my experience and thoughts with you.

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Cohort Outtake: 1960 Siata Ampurias 750 – A Notchback Fiat/SEAT 600

Paul Niedermeyer

– Posted on September 6, 2024

(first posted 9/6/2018) There’s few things that make my day more than being exposed to a car that I never knew existed. CC reader Julieta L. sent me a couple of links to this delightful little car, the 1960 Siata Ampurias 750. Designed and built at Siata’s Spanish affiliate, which built this and apparently some other specials based on SEATs, or Spanish Fiats.

There’s very little information available on the Ampurias, except that it was of course based on the very popular Fiat/SEAT 600. But it largely speaks for itself.

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